Join the music and dance ensemble Salama, led by Dr Muriel Hillion-Toulcanon, for an immersive Maloya music and dance workshop celebrating the living culture of Réunion Island.
Maloya is more than a music and dance genre – it’s an expression of Réunionese Creole culture. Communicating aspects of the island’s history of slavery and resistance, Maloya embodies resilience, storytelling and community. It’s a tradition that pulses through the Indian Ocean’s Creole cultures, carried in rhythm, voice and movement.
This workshop strikes the perfect balance between joyful participation and meaningful learning. You will explore traditional Malagasy and Réunionese Creole songs and learn about the powerful oral traditions passed down through generations. Through call-and-response singing and body percussion, you’ll experience the liberating and unifying spirit of Maloya.
As a participant, you will also have the chance to play traditional instruments like the roulèr, kayamb and sati/pikèr – the rhythmic foundation of this soulful art form.
Whether you want to sing along, move and dance, clap to the beat or simply listen, you’ll experience how music, dance and language are deeply connected in this culture – a joyful, communal celebration.
I am passionately dedicated to arts and culture, with extensive experience in Indian Ocean Creole arts … I have witnessed the transformative power of the arts to inspire, connect, and enrich lives.
– Muriel Hillion-Toulcanon
This workshop is open to adults and children (with an accompanying adult).
